Why Grow Native Flowers from Seed?
Native pollinators prefer native plants, and one of the easiest and least expensive ways to improve pollinator habitat is to plant native wildflowers from seed and bulbs.
These re-seeding annuals and perennials provide pollen and nectar for solitary bees and butterflies, and because they are local natives they will bloom at the ideal time to feed the local populations.
When to Sow Wildflower Seed in Ground?
Many of our native wildflowers either begin their growth during the wet season, or require extensive cold, moist periods to germinate at all.
The best time (and for some, the only time) to plant these is while we have cold, wet weather – late fall to very early spring, so stop in and see our selection of local native wildflower seeds. We offer individual seed packets as well as seed mixes sourced from Heritage Seedlings & Liners, Inc.
What to Plant for Who?
Farewell-to-Spring (Clarkia amoena), and Seablush (Plectritis congesta) provide nectar feeding stops for all sorts of butterflies, and are larval hosts for some.
Seablush helps early bees; then Blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia grandiflora) and Large-Flowered Phlox (Collomia grandiflora) provide for later spring bees.
PNW Native Seeds – Available Now
Single Variety Seed Packets
- Achillea m. ‘Common Yarrow’ – Early summer flowers are usually white, though occasionally light pink. Yarrow attracts a wide range of pollinators.
- Aquilegia f. ‘Western Red Columbine’ – Lovely red and yellow flowers blooms from spring to early summer. Very attractive to pollinators.
- Camassia l. ‘Great Camas’ – Bright blue flowers late spring through early summer are great for many sorts of pollinators.
- Clarkia a. ‘Farewell-to-Spring’ – Showy pink to dark pink flowers late spring and early summer, and are favored by many bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
- Collinsia g. ‘Blue-eyed Mary’ – Blue-violet flowers in late spring are great for many kinds of bees.
- Collomia g. ‘Wild Phlox’ – White flowers late spring to summer are very attractive to bees – look for the characteristic bright blue pollen!
- Elymus g. ‘Blue wild rye’ – Blue wild rye is a cool season bunchgrass that thrives in a wide range of soil and climate types.
- Eriophyllum l. ‘Oregon Sunshine’ – Sun-loving yellow flowers that grow best in any dry meadow or rocky hillside. Spreads rapidly, growing well in difficult dry rocky areas once established.
- Gilia c. ‘Bluehead Gilia’ – Numerous baby-blue, globe-like flowers bloom in summer on heads 3 to 5 feet tall. A drought tolerant annual that self sows; loved by butterflies, bees and other native pollinators.
- Hosackia p. ‘Bog Deervetch’ – Typically found in cool damp sites; low meadows, and seasonally wet areas, but highly adaptable if given encouragement and rich soil.
- Iris tenax ‘Tough Leaf Iris’ – Very adaptable. Flowers usually light purple, but individuals may be blue or yellow or white.
- Koeleria m. ‘Prairie Junegrass’ – Very drought tolerant, requires good drainage. Relatively short clumps, with showy flower spikes above the blades early in the summer.
- Lomatium t. ‘Nineleaf Biscuitroot’ – Thrives in our oak woodlands, valley grasslands, and open ridges all the way up into the mountains.
- Lupinus polycarpus ‘Smallflower Lupine’ – Great for barren and poor-soil sites! Dense clusters of indigo colored blooms from mid-spring to August.
- Lupinus polyphyllus ‘Bigleaf Lupine’ – Early to mid summer flowers are highly prized by native bees, bumble bees, and hummingbirds; also an important butterfly larval food source. One of the largest lupines, can reach 5 ft. tall.
- Perideridia o. ‘Oregon Yampah’ – An edible perennial widely used by indigenous tribes of the PNW. Highly generalist and can thrive in average to rich soils.
- Plagiobothrys f. ‘Fragrant Popcornflower’ – Fragrant white flowers in late spring and early summer are forage for many pollinators.
- Plectritis c. ‘Seablush’ – Profuse pink flowers in mid to late spring. Forage for bees of all sorts, and for many butterflies, including Fenders Blue and Taylor Checkerspot.
- Prunella v. ‘Lance-leaf Selfheal’ – Blue-violet flowers produced over a long period in the summer. Excellent bee forage, nectar source (and occasional larval host) for butterflies, including whites, sulfurs and greys.
- Sanicula b. ‘Purple Sanicle’ – Purplish red (rarely yellow) round flower balls make this perennial native wildflower special. Erect spreading stems can reach up to 3 feet tall.
- Sidalcea m. ‘Rose Checkermallow’ – This perennial has bright pink flowers late spring and early summer are good for bees and crucial habitat for butterflies, including Fender’s Blue, Painted Lady and Skippers.
- Sidalcea c. ‘Meadow Checkerbloom’ – Nectar rich, pinkish-colored flowers are adored by hummingbirds, native bees, butterflies (particularly the endangered Fender’s blue butterfly), and other wildlife.
- Thalictrum p. ‘Tall Western Meadow Rue’ – Shows out with eccentric purple blooms from May-August. It can grow up to 6 feet tall when mature. Moist soil is ideal.
Wildflower Seed Mixes
- Annual Color mix – Highly diverse and full of forage for native wildlife from bumblebees to native birds. This mix will thrive in full to part sun, however there is tolerance for shade in this mix.
- Oak Understory mix – A mix of native grasses with some annual many perennial wildflowers suited for oak scrub or savannah.
- Tall Butterfly and Grass mix – A diverse mix of native flowers, mostly persistent perennials with a size range up to 5-6 ft tall, combined with shorter native grasses.
- Tough Site mix – No grasses, just flowers – 25% annual and 75% perennial, selected for broad site adaptability, persistence, and toughness. Can be planted in any site that is neither winter flooded nor deep shade.
- Urban Meadow mix – A great mix for non-irrigated areas or where plants are having trouble establishing. Mix of native grasses and colorful native annuals and perennials.
- Wetland Prairie Mix – This very diverse and perennial heavy mix will provide a balance of wetland grasses and long blooming and water tolerant wildflowers.
The contents of the mixes are listed on the back of each packet.
Planting PNW Native Bulbs in Fall
Bulbs are integral parts of our native flora, and deeply bonded to our outdoor experiences.
The wild wonder of western Oregon is highlighted when the green swampy meadow submerges in a sea of uniform blue camas, a carpet of fawn lily or shooting star in a dappled wood is discovered, or when given the sudden surprise of finding the delicate beauty of mariposas amid a rocky scrub.
Apart from their aesthetics, native bulbs also fill important niches in our ecosystems. Our native fauna, bugs and birds and mammals alike, have co-evolved with these species – plants that are perfectly suited to provide for their habitat needs.
Many native bulbs are easy to grow, and adapted to even some of our most challenging sites, and fall is the best (and sometimes only) opportunity to plant them.
Native Bulbs to Plant in Fall
Wet in winter and dry in summer: Greater camas (Camassia leichtlinii) or harvest cluster-lily (Brodiaea elegans).
Non-irrigated are under oak trees: Establish a drift of chocolate lily (Fritillaria affinis).
Woodland edge: Shooting star (Dodecatheon hendersonii) grow where it gets light, but not the intense competition of lots of grasses, and needs the buzz of bumblebees for pollination.
Full sun, dry hillsides: Ookow (Dichelostemma congestum) waits to bloom until grasses (and even its own foliage) are preparing to go dormant for the summer.
More native bulb planting considerations:
- Buy soon, and plant immediately. Most of our native bulbs begin their growing cycle right now, and many of them are challenging to hold for planting a few weeks down the road.
- Select bulbs suited to your site’s lighting. Shooting star are quite adaptable; ookow and cluster-lilies require full sun, but camas will grow just fine in dappled shade.
- Many of our native bulbs require a dry resting period in summer, and are not suited for irrigated landscapes. Checker lilies, and ookow are examples of native bulbs that prefer to dry out in the summer. A few native bulbs don’t like sites that dry out too much (or too fast) – notably camas, and some of the alliums.
Native Bulbs – Remaining Bulbs will Arrive in Late October
- Allium a. ‘Narrow Leaf Onion’ – Sun to part shade in soils that dry out completely in summer, including clay or rocky slopes. Pale pink flowers from spring to late spring, occasionally into early summer.
- Asclepias spec. ‘Showy Milkweed’ – This is a specific Monarch butterfly larval host plant. Grows 4′-5′ tall.
- Brodiaea e. ‘Harvest Brodiaea’ – Blue-purple flowers bloom after the leaves wither in June to July. A lovely native wildflower, forming carpets on hillsides, bluffs, and woodland clearing.
- Camassia q. ‘Common Camas’ – The iconic and well-known native wildflower with deep blue-purple, star-shaped blooms. A great addition to perennial beds or in mixed wildflower meadows.
- Camassia leich. ‘Great Camas’ – Blue to purple flowers bloom April to May. Can grow in soggy soils. Bulb is edible. 2′-4′ tall. Known for being a valuable edible plant to native tribes.
- Dodecatheon h. ‘Henderson’s Shooting Star’ – Magenta flowers are loved by solitary bees as flowers appear early in spring, late February to April. Performs well in gardens with summer dry.
- Eythronium o. ‘White Fawn Lily’ – Creamy white to yellow flowers on mottled leaves bloom March to May; forms large clusters. Grows well in unirrigated and shady lawns, does not like summer moisture.
- Fritillaria a. ‘Checker Lily’ – Uniquely checkered, purple-brown-greenish flowers bloom April to May. Plant these bulbs in an area with good drainage; it can tolerate summer moisture.
- Lilium columbianum ‘Columbian Lily’ – Grows in drier meadows and forests in northern ranges.
PNW Native Plants Playlist on YouTube
Learn about the many PNW native plants that make our local area beautiful and unique, including our top plant picks for challenging sites.